Additional Coverage:
- Satellite images show the huge impact of the deadly UPS plane crash (businessinsider.com)
Devastation in Louisville: Satellite Images Reveal Aftermath of UPS Cargo Plane Crash
Louisville, KY – New satellite imagery vividly illustrates the extensive destruction left in the wake of a UPS cargo plane crash near Muhammad Ali International Airport. The tragic incident, which occurred on Tuesday, claimed the lives of at least 12 individuals, many of whom were on the ground in the industrial area where the plane ultimately came to rest.
The McDonnell Douglas MD-11, operating as UPS Flight 2976 and bound for Honolulu, crashed shortly after takeoff. Initial reports from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) indicate that the aircraft’s left engine detached entirely during the takeoff sequence. Videos of the crash show the plane banking sharply to the left in its final moments.
With an estimated nine-hour journey ahead, the jet was carrying a substantial 220,000 pounds of fuel, equivalent to approximately 38,000 gallons. This immense fuel load is believed to have contributed significantly to the massive fireball and towering smoke plume that erupted upon impact, just three miles south of the airport.
Both the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder, commonly known as the “black boxes,” have been successfully recovered, and investigators are now analyzing their contents to determine the precise cause of the accident.
Airport Operations Disrupted, Then Restored
Following the crash, Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport was temporarily shut down on Tuesday, leading to the cancellation of dozens of flights and stranding numerous passengers. The airport resumed operations on Wednesday.
Trail of Damage Spans Industrial Zone
Satellite images, provided by commercial imagery provider Vantor, offer a stark before-and-after comparison of the crash site. The impact created a path of devastation approximately 2,800 feet long.
The plane first appeared to strike a UPS warehouse adjacent to the end of Runway 17R, the runway from which it departed. Vantor reports a 295-foot (90-meter) gash in the warehouse roof. Other businesses affected include Kentucky Petroleum Recycling and Grade A Auto Parts.
Flightradar24 data suggests that Flight 2976 achieved a maximum altitude of only around 175 feet before crashing.
Unaccounted For and Lingering Concerns
As of Thursday afternoon, officials stated that at least nine people remain unaccounted for.
The initial response to the crash included a shelter-in-place order for a five-mile radius around the airport, which was later extended north to the Ohio River as emergency responders worked to contain the extensive fire. This order has since been reduced to a smaller radius encompassing the immediate hazardous crash site.
Engine Detachment Under Investigation
NTSB official J. Todd Inman confirmed on Wednesday that CCTV footage shows “the left engine detaching from the wing during the takeoff roll.”
Mark Stephens, a former MD-11 pilot and instructor, explained that while rare, engines are designed to shear off an aircraft during intense vibration to prevent damage to critical components. The MD-11 is capable of flying with two engines, as it is a three-engine aircraft.
The full investigation into the cause of this devastating crash is ongoing.
Read More About This Story:
- Satellite images show the huge impact of the deadly UPS plane crash (businessinsider.com)